Brief: ICE returns to the sunshine

People skate during last year’s installment of ICE at Santa Monica. (Photo by Brandon Wise)

The unlikely pairing of sunny beach town and ice skating rink returns for another season of ICE at Santa Monica.

The rink will host a grand opening on Nov. 8, slated to begin at 6 p.m. In its sixth year, ICE will kick-off this year’s run with a holiday concert, a synchronized skating team and hosts Randy Gardner and Tai Babilonia, both famous for their time as figure skaters.

The rink itself will begin operation on Nov. 2 and stay open through Jan. 21, 2013.

ICE is the centerpiece of Downtown Santa Monica Inc.’s annual Winterlit promotion. There will be a tree lighting on Nov. 17 at Santa Monica Place with other festivities including visits from Santa, pet photos and a Chanukah menorah lighting.

Downtown Santa Monica Inc. is a public/private entity tasked with managing and promoting the downtown area.